Education

Academic Achievement

Student Performance on Grade 3 English

Student Performance on Grade 3 English

What does this measure?

The percent of students tested who scored at level 3 or above, meeting or exceeding the state standard, on the state Grade 3 English exam. The test is scored by placing a student's performance in one of four levels.

Why is this important?

Literacy skills are critical to success in school and life. Meeting state standards in the third grade indicates a student is on track to perform adequately in middle and high school English.

How are Cayuga and Seneca counties performing?

In 2013, 24% of third-graders in Cayuga and 28% in Seneca passed the English exam (met or exceeded state standards), below the state (excluding NYC) rate of 33%. In 2013, the state changed all exams in 3rd through 8th grades to reflect the Common Core Standards, adopted in most states to better prepare students for success beyond high school by emphasizing problem solving, understanding and synthesis, comprehension of nonfiction text, and other higher-order thinking skills. Passing rates in the comparison counties ranged from 23% in Oswego to 31% in Ontario in 2013. In 2012, under the previous testing regimen, 53% of students in Cayuga and 50% in Seneca passed, compared to 59% of students in the state (excluding NYC).

Within the counties, 2013 passing rates were lowest in Port Byron (18%), Auburn (20%), and Moravia (24%) in Cayuga and Waterloo (24%) in Seneca.

Notes about the data

Changes in the state's testing program over the last decade impact the comparability of test results year to year. In addition to the shift to Common Core Standards in 2013, the state in 2010 revised scoring of its tests, raising the threshold for passing.

Featured Indicator

The percent of students tested who scored at level 3 or above, meeting or exceeding the state standard, on the state Grade 3 English exam. The test is scored by placing a student's performance in one of four levels.